House by the Sea Lyrics

Lyric discussion by jwknov29 

Cover art for House by the Sea lyrics by Iron & Wine

To me, this the "jealous sisters" are sirens, given that they live by the sea and seem to be tempting the singer. Around the "house by the sea" there are beautiful nectars and the temptation of smoking. They've been changing the sound of his name, calling him by repeating his name slowly as if to say "come here." He's torn between giving in to their temptation, "swimming to them in my sleep," and resisting it, "sparing my neck from their chain."